Having a business appointment at the wonderfully named Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield, Thursday evening I decided to stay overnight. Sarah, my actress in the play, got me a room at her digs. She warned about the landlady who she said “was a bit of a dragon” Oddly enough she did remind me of Peggy Mount in the old TV series “George and the Dragon” (younger readers check with your parents on this one) To be fair she provided us with a nice supper.
After breakfast, Sarah hit the shops and I hit the A38 to Derby, arriving at the ground about 10.45 I entered to join the sparse crowd assembled. We could be in for a day of attrition, with Middx needing to bat until at least the final hour to save the game.

 However, in only the fourth over of the morning, Morgan, having added just one to his overnight total, edged an away swinger from Langeveldt through to keeper New, and it was 63-3. That brought Dan Housego to the wicket and he and Malan faced a difficult time, a real test of the two youngsters mettle. They got their heads down, and although it was hard going it was good, interesting cricket to watch. They both played and missed a few times, and in between Malan played some lovely shots, including 9 boundaries.  Chris Rogers, at slip, in his first game in charge, was very vocal in his support of his bowlers and fielders. Something, to be honest, I felt has been lacking when I have watched us in the field this season.

Malan and Housego had put on 55 for the fourth wicket when Rogers threw the ball to Wavell Hinds to bowl his medium stuff. Whether Dawid relaxed at the though of facing a “part time bowler” I don’t know, but at his third ball he flashed at one outside the leg stump and was well caught by New standing up. He had made 47(118-4). That was the start of one of our famous mini collapses. Ben Scott lasted just seven balls before he also was caught behind off Hinds, without scoring. Gareth Berg didn’t last too long either, making five, before the New/Hinds combination struck again, and when Housego was yorked by Langeveldt for a very creditable 36 we were 147-7. Then, in what was to be the last over before lunch, Kartick played a loose shot to the third ball and Wagg took a comfortable catch. We had lost FIVE wickets for just 29 runs.

 At lunch we were 147-8, leading by just 106 runs. Looks like I will be home early this evening. After lunch Alan Richardson enjoyed himself but hitting Langeveldt for two straight fours, before the bowler got his revenge by knocking out his off stump, Richo out for 14, 165-9. The same bowler picked up his fifth wicket of the innings in his next over when Dial M was bowled for nine, 166 all out. Langeveldt 5-40, Hinds 3-22. Derby need just 126 to inflict our fifth defeat of the season. I announced to anyone in earshot it would be an eight wicket victory. Once again, apparent lack of application, this time by the middle/late order, has cost us dear.

 We are off and running, there is something rather depressing watching team going down to defeat. Mind you we should be used to it after the last few seasons. Steady start but first breakthrough coming at 21, when Borrington sliced Dial M to Morgan. Joycie brought Murli into the attack early after just nine overs, but I suspect it will not make any difference. Things are moving ever so gently along, good job the sun is shining; I’ll try and keep awake!!  However, Birch has decided to liven things up a bit and has struck three fours and a six, before Chris Rogers was bowled through the gate by Kartick for 20. 55/2. That brought Hinds in and I wondered whether these two who love to play their shots would hurry the victory along. In the last over before tea, Hinds showed his intentions by lofting Evans for a maximum.

 Tea at 76-2, with just 50 to win. A local has advised me either to leave now or hang around due to the traffic nightmare on a Friday eve in and around Derby. I think I shall choose the latter. See it through to the bitter end and find a local inn and drown my sorrows. Not too deep though as I want to get back to London tonight and in one piece!!!  In the end the match was over before 4.30pm, Derby taking just 11 overs to knock off the runs, Birch playing a splendid knock of 66, with 8 fours and 2 sixes. Hinds was dismissed for 23, bowled by Evans but only six were needed by then.

 On the drive home I rewrote this last bit in my head several times. To me this team is not good enough to go up either this season or next. I’m concerned that winning the 20/20 has disguised our failings in the longer game. One thing that could come out is the two spin offs which might mean a bit more money being available to attract a couple more experienced batters to help the young guns. As in many sports, young players often suffer “second season syndrome” as Billy has this year so the experienced players have to help them out, something sadly lacking this year.

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